WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS - MARY - BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD

LUKE 1:26-38 – MARY

BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD

Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Six months after he gave Zacharias the news about Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel on another mission, a second divine assignment. Gabriel was dispatched to the small town of Nazareth to make an announcement to a virgin girl named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph who was in the lineage of King David, but they had not yet married. They were betrothed, which was legally binding; and any infidelity would be considered adultery against the future spouse.

Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Gabriel told Mary she was to be unique among all women, specially chosen by God. He explained that God was present in her life. Mary was favored in the sense that God extended grace to her for the assignment of bringing forth the redeemer of the whole world.

Luke 1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

Mary was a simple peasant girl. She was confused and in wonderment at this greeting from the angel.

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

Gabriel gave Mary the shocking news that she was going to become pregnant and have a son. She was to name this son Jesus which means “Jehovah is generous, Jehovah saves.” Jesus is a derivative of Joshua or Yeshua and was not an uncommon name, but the angel’s next statement made clear that this would be no common baby.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Gabriel told Mary that her son would reign on the throne of David FOREVER. That throne would continue eternally because Jesus would be the Son of the Most High, the Son of God.

Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Mary, understandably, was astonished at the news that she would be pregnant since she and Joseph were not married yet, and she was a virgin. She must have been terrified and confused. Also, she would have no one to share her troubles with since probably no one would believe her. Keep in mind, this was a private conversation between Mary and Gabriel. Talking to anyone else, surely, they would have deemed her crazy. Or worse, stoned her as unfaithful to her betrothed.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 

Gabriel answered Mary’s question by explaining that this was not going to be the normal exchange between a woman and a man. God was going to personally, miraculously, impregnate her with His Son in the form of an embryo. He assured her of God’s power to perform this miracle in her by telling her of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, miraculous because of her advanced age. I find the statement in verse 37 in the Voice translation particularly comforting: "So the impossible is possible with God." AMEN

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Hearing the angel’s answer to her question, Mary submitted and committed herself to the process of conception, pregnancy, and birth of the Redeemer Jesus in accordance with the Father’s will. She must have known she would be subjecting herself to ridicule, gossip, and even the possibility of stoning or banishment, either of which would have been within Joseph’s rights to demand. At the risk of all these things, she humbly submitted anyway.

Mary's response to God's plan for her was humble.  When God uses you in a mighty way, remember to give Him all the glory and credit. You are just the vessel to carry His blessings to others.